Letters to the Editor - Response to Memorial Day comment

Posted:
06/08/2017 04:10:04 PM MDT

"Better yet, attend the annual Memorial Day Observance at the Estes Valley Memorial Gardens..." Do we have any soldiers buried here that died while in service — in war? If you're extolling the notion that Estes citizens should "Remember what Memorial Day is about," why are you pointing out this event when it is clearly and merely a lovefest for all things military and all veterans in general, and is not specifically for those who died in combat?

First of all, as a Veteran I find it deplorable that the Trail-Gazette publishes such a comment from JustSayinEP about Memorial Day without asking the for a full identity. You would have asked for full identity if it was a Letter to the Editor. For someone to make such a COWARDLY comment without his or her full identity and hiding behind anonymity just shows the lowest character of that person. While many only regard Memorial Day as part of a three-day holiday, the 3 percent of us that have served and our families look on this day as a tribute to those that paid the ultimate sacrifice in what they believed was the protection of their Country. Whether that was on the actual field of battle or because of their service.

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Regardless of what JustSayinEP may think, our men and women of the military started out each day with a mission in mind but not really knowing whether this would be their last day. Still knowing that, they continue their mission knowing what they do is not just for them, their country, but for their buddy next to them.

As a Volunteer Hospice Worker at the VA in Cheyenne my wife and I see the toll that Veterans go through whether they were in combat or not. Shell Shock for our WWII and Korean Veterans, the same and Agent Orange for our Vietnam Veterans and PTSD and who knows what else for our Iraqi and Afghanistan Veterans. Our ability to help them through pain and agony that they go through during their final transition of life is something that we feel privileged to do. Further, currently over 22 Veterans a day commit suicide because of their inability to handle their experiences and not receiving the attention to their mental health needs. As a Veterans Advocate, my wife and I also work to help fill some of the needs of an estimated 300 plus homeless Veterans just in Northern Colorado. What have you done to thank a Veteran who kept you or your family free from tyranny?

This past Memorial Day, I was on the Honor Guard Detail during the ceremonies at the Estes Valley Memorial Gardens, I helped the Marin Corps Detachment out of Loveland during the showing of the traveling Vietnam Wall, in Fort Collins, I was on the committee to help the local American Legion with some immediate needs I'm on the committee to establish a Veterans Monument here in Estes Park and I helped with the presentation of the Tomb of the Unknow Soldier at the Stanley Hotel. So, JustSayinEP, I ask for the last time, what have you done besides eating poggy bait and drinking soda pop to thank our Veterans who kept you or your family safe from those threats to our Country.

So for those that feel the same as, JustSayinEP, it's not a lovefest as you put it and not just the combat veteran that we memorialize during this time.

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